Smart Dragons hit century

Smart Dragons wrote a piece of history by becoming the first team to post a century in the Cambodian Basketball League in their 111-63 drubbing of GL Concrete at the Olympic Stadium indoor arena on Saturday.

Mauled by the Mekong Tigers 87-66 in their opening game, Smart Dragons were bent on sending a positive message about the team’s worth and succeeded, doing it in the most spectacular fashion possible.

Unlike in the previous game, the Dragons could rely on a full roster this time – except for Jordan Bergen and Kelvin Chan – and this was reflected in their dominant display.

Making his CBL debut, Gabrielle Castaldo capped his first fast break with a two-handed dunk for the Dragons – a seemingly ominous signal to their opposition of the rampage that was to follow.

Castaldo was quickly fouled out, lasting only 12 minutes in all, but Leng Seng, Chhim Chandara and Chhim Taingyou kept the offensive going. When it came to Dragons’ defence, Philip Elliot was the man of the hour, with five blocks and 14 rebounds to his name.

For GL Concrete only Ran Noren was able to deal with the half-court defence that the Dragons so successfully orchestrated.

In the first game of the day, Mekong Tigers rolled over NSK Dream 72-56 to complete their third win in a row.

The first quarter was tight with both teams searching the wings in the hope of drive and dish until Sok Samnang gave the Tigers a seven-point advantage by sinking two three-pointers back to back.

The Tigers’ lead doubled in the second quarter and stretched to 19 by the end of the third, leaving NSK Dream plenty of work to do. The Tigers were on cruise control in the fourth, though NSK Dream did show some improvement.